Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 18, 1993 TAG: 9311180071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
He made the announcement at a gathering of the Pulaski County Bar Association on Tuesday night Owens and to employees at the courthouse in Giles County on Wednesday.
Owens, 67, is the second judge among the four who serve the 27th Judicial Circuit to say he is planning to step down next year.
Judge Kenneth Devore, 66, indicated last week in comments made in courts in Montgomery and Floyd counties that he would retire early next year.
The other judges are Willis Woods of Wytheville and Duane Mink of Radford. The four preside in courts in the counties of Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe and the city of Radford.
Owens was appointed a judge in early 1983. He was Pulaski County commonwealth's attorney for 16 years, starting in 1964.
He was born in Bluestone, W.Va., but has lived in Pulaski since he was 2. He entered the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in 1944 and served until 1946.
He attended an extension college of William & Mary in an old Coast Guard barracks in south Norfolk. He also attended Roanoke College and graduated in 1952 from Washington and Lee Law School.
Owens suffered a heart attack July 8, 1990, but recovered. He said Wednesday that a recent checkup showed him to be in good health.
He is stepping down because "I just think it's time."
Owens said he will be available to handle cases on an as-needed basis after he retires.
The General Assembly Courts of Justice Committee will appoint successors to Owens and Devore.
by CNB